★ NOV 2024 ELECTION ★
Hello Northern Manhattan Neighbors!
I was told I have until November 20th to collect myself, and work starts again after the Supermajority meeting. I am still trying to process everything I witnessed, what I have been told and thoughts will change as more data comes in.
Donald Trump had an appreciation for the death penalty in his younger years, I often think of his NYTimes ad calling for the Central Park Five to face capitol punishment (now The Exonerated Five). His previous administration chose to allow a high number of capitol punishment sentences to be satisfied. My first action is clearly in place. He has an “enemies list” and I am now an "enthusiastic" supporter of the ACLU's campaign to ban capital punishment state by state. This as a practical measure we can all get behind.
Without a doubt, the American election is in-step with the global trend. All national elections favored a more authoritarian leader this year. We have seen this coming, (thanks for this link, Heidi). This election outcome was upsetting, but not surprising, unfortunately. The topic of immigration in the exit polls was difficult to digest. American's finding a pittance in financial services to an immigrant family or spanish-speaking assistance for "new american students" to be "unfair" is confounding. The humane treatment of others and not allowing an immigrant population to feel oppressed does not disadvantage any person. Let's not forget that it was Trump who directed Republicans to kill the bipartisan border bill the Biden administration hoped to pass and ease the stress of the immigration concerns along our southern border. This set the stage for Trump's ability to run on the issue of immigration, it's too bad the electorate was unable to see the connection. The Economist found Harris' economic plan to be a much healthier choice for Americans. Unfortunately we are part of a global trend that soaks up fear & accepts contradicting statements from someone who says "I am the only one who can fix it". We have a big problem with bigotry.
One in five women in the US experience rape-violence during their lifetime. Nearly a quarter of men in the US experience sexual violence in their lifetime. 81% of women & 43% of men report experiencing some form of sexual harassment our assault. The latest data estimates 730,000 people in the US are raped every year. Since the 1970s, at least 26 women have publicly accused Donald Trump, the ex-president & now president-elect of the United States from 2017 to 2021, of rape, kissing, and groping without consent; looking under women's skirts; and walking in on naked teenage pageant contestants. Trump has denied all of the allegations, and has been found guilty in civil court of sexual assault. For anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault or has a family member or friend who is a victim of sexual assault the result of this election creates difficulty and emotional pain. The National Sexual Assault Hotline is a valuable resource in finding support at this time. For college students the End Campus Rape website is also available.
I will continue to ensure NO ONE steels my joy. We can continue doing the good work we do. Remember to be kind to yourself & your neighbors. I hope to see you at the upcoming meetings listed & linked above. Please take notes to share with your friends and neighbors.
In the mean time... who can we encourage to run for office? Who will help us overcome these tremendous obstacles? The midterm elections will be here before we know it. Who can answer the call to ease division, prioritize women & children, heal the fractures in our community and speak truth to bigotry?
I Love My Neighbors, Nik
★ NOV 2025 ELECTION ★
Hi Neighbors,
I am so proud of NYC for electing a Mayor who has vowed to run a city for 'the people' of this city. Since 1974, this city, run by immigrants, has not has a Mayor who was born outside of the United States. This gives me great hope that new-comers to our city will feel welcome and are cared for, and the many immigrants, whose work-hours are invested in creating a city that functions for all of us, will not feel ignored or overlooked. I have hope that tenants will be heard and responded to with the positive changes they require.
We have a new Borough President who has made great efforts to be present in Inwood and Washington Heights. Northern Manhattan has hope that Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal will help us ensure the positive changes we have hoped to see in our community.
As we look forward to this year's federal elections, let's not forget the gravity of our Congressional seat - Northern Manhattan will choose who we will send to represent us in Washington D.C.. Our State House Assembly seat is on the ballot, who can we send to Albany that will help Northern Manhattan with the legislation representation we need? Who will be a good parter to our wonderful State Senator, Robert Jackson?
Speaking with community members, these are some of the changes we hope to see initiated in 2026:
• PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION: Return a strong Social Studies & Civics curriculum to our public schools. This was pushed aside to make room for STEM/STEAM, we need to make room "how to be a citizen" and "how does government work" if we want effective leaders and active citizens in generations to come.
• COLLEGE/LOCAL GOV'T PARTNERSHIPS: Let's offer college grants for high school students who serve in local government departments or community organizations.
• SOCIAL MEDIA: I keep hearing that all political posting, for or against any issue, no matter the topic, needs to be limited on social media. This needs to be explored. The sound-bites that are misinforming the public, unintentionally or intentionally are unhelpful to everyone. I don't mind being unable to see posts from the current administration or any other administration before them. I don't know how this would work or what it would look like, but let's see what we can do about limiting "official voices" who do not uphold the tenants of journalistic integrity.
• SEPARATION OF CHURCH & STATE, SHOULD BE A DIVISION OF RELIGION & STATE: I love my friends, family and neighbors whose faiths manifests in feeding the hungry and housing the homeless, call them to public service and so much more. But, there is a danger to those of faith when the church begins to creep into public schools and government buildings... especially if the church/religion is not their own. Currently, there is a growing trend of including Christian practices in public schools and government buildings. And this seems ok for people of the Christian faith, or not offensive to some non-Christians, but in many cases this is offensive to anyone who does not practice the Christian faith. Contrary to common belief, this trend does not safeguard from any other religion that may become trendy in the future. The strongest protection of Christian, Jewish, Muslim, or any faith are the laws safeguarding The Freedom of Religion in the United States of America - so that no single religion will ever be forced on any person. This protects the practice of all faiths, equally. We need to fortify the Freedom of Religion and ensure a division of RELIGION and STATE in all public spaces so that "the people" can freely express their own faiths without the government's interference. Let's ensure a division of Church and State, Synagogue and State, Mosque and State, and so on.
So many more thoughts... but this is what I've been able to jot down for now. I hope to see you all at the upcoming Congressional Candidate Forum that Uptown Community Democrats is hosting. The event is open to the public, and is being held on Thursday, January 22nd at Holy Trinity Church on Cumming Street. You can register for the event at UCDnyc.com.
All my love to my NYC neighbors, Nik